Method of constructing a building



April Z5, 1967 J. w. BERG 3,315,343

METHOD OF CONSTRUCTING A BUILDNG Filed April 13, 1964 2 SheetS-Sheet 'I lo 2o ls new Fig.3

INVENTOR. JOHN W. BERG Apr-nl 25, 1967 J. w. BERG 3,315,343

METHOD OF CONSTRUCTING A BUILDING Filed April 1s, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig.5

INVENTOR. JO HN W. B E R G United States Patent O 3,315,343 METHOD F CONSTRUCTING A BUILDING John W. Berg, La Mesa, Calif., assignor, by mesne assignments, to The Bendix Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Filed Apr. 13, 1964, Ser. No. 359,341 4 Claims. (Cl. 29--421) The present invention relates generally to a method of constructing a building and more particularly to a method of shaping a sheet material roof in situ and raising it to the desired height for integration into the structure of the building.

Background In the art of building construction it is generally accepted practice to work from the ground up, that is, to first construct the foundation, then erect the walls and lastly position the roof in place. The components of the Walls may be cut to fit on the job or where a relatively large number of units are to be fabricated on the same design modular units may be Prefabricated at the Afactory and assembled on the site. The roof is usually formed of relatively small sections of suitable material supported on beams or rafters to provide the necessary strength. In any event it is usual practice in the prior art to erect the walls and roof beams of a building before applying the roof thereto.

The method embraced in-the present application departs radically from conventional building construction. In practicing my novel method I utilize the building foundation as a ibase upon which I secure a piece of sheet material having overalldimensions of a size commensurate to the size of the finished roof. This sheet is then stretched, preferably by the application of fluid pressure between the sheet and the foundation, to form a generally dome shaped roof, which can be subsequently raised and held at the desired position while supporting means, either in the form of walls or columns are positioned and secured thereunder.

Objects and drawings The primary object of this invention is to provide an improved method of forming a roof in situ on a building foundation.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an improved method of stretching a piece of sheet material to essentially the shape of a finished roof structure.

It is a still Ifurther object of this .invention to provide an improved method of utilizing fluid pressure to stretch a large section of sheet material to finished shape while it is secured to a building foundation and thereafter raising the stretched sheet material and supporting the same by wall elements thereby integrating these elements into a building structure.

With these and other objects definitely in view, this invention consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of elements and portions, as will `be hereinafter pointed out in the claims, and illustrated in the drawings which form a material part of this disclosure, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a cross section of a foundation with a blank of sheet material secured thereto before the application of fluid pressure;

FIGURE 2 is a view similar to FIGURE l after stretching of the blank;

FIGURE 3 is a diagrammatic view showing how the sheet material roof section of FIGURE 2 is raised to position;

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 1 but showing an alternative method of stretching the roof section; and

FIGURE 5 is a view showing the method of raising the roof section of FIGURE 4.

Referring now more particularly to FIGURES 1-3 ref- Patented Apr. 25, 1967 erence numeral 10 indicates a building slab or foundation of any suitable construction. As here shown it is in the -form of a slab of concrete such as presently used for the formation of foundations and bearing directly on the ground. It is to be understood that other types of foundation structures may be used the only requirement being that they be substantially impervious to the passage of fluid therethrough for a purpose that will be hereinafter explained. Embedded in the foundation, around the periphery thereof, are a plurality of equally spaced bolts 12 having threaded ends 14 extending above the level 16 of the foundation 10. A sealing strip 18 is vpositioned over the bolts 12 and completely around the periphery of foundation 10. A preformed blank or sheet 20` of 'suitable material having holes coextensive with the bolts 12 is now placed in position and secured by clamp ring 22 suitably secured in position on bolts 12 by nut-s 24 engaged on threaded ends 14. The material of the blank or sheet 20 may be any sheet metal stock of the desired thickness capable of taking a set after being stretched or it may be one of the readily available, substantially inelastic, synthetic plastics merchandized under the names of nylon and Daeron.

With the sheet in position as shown in FIGURE l fluid pressure is applied to the space 26 between the sheet and the imperforate foundation from a suitable source of pressure such as pump 28, the inlet side 30 of which is connected to a fluid source by conduit 30 and the outlet side 32 of which leads to space 26. The magnitude of the pressure is determined by the characteristics of the sheet material blank 20. `It has been found that the blank or sheet will expand or stretch to a substantially dome shape as shown in FIGURE 2, which shape will be maintained on release of pressure, if the material is substantially inelastic. A suitable pressure release valve 34 is provided to relieve the pressure under the stretched sheet 20l when it has reached the desired predetermined shape.

After the pressure has been relieved under the stretched sheet 20, nuts 24 are 4backed off and removed from bolts 12. The stretched sheet 20 is now free to be raised to the desired height. 1 Any suitable means may be used to facilitate this operation, In a preferred form Iuse an inflatable hollow element which may 'be positioned under the stretched sheet 20, and inflated to raise the same, suitable means being applied to the edge of the sheet to stabilize it during lifting. In FIGURE 3 I have shown the stretched sheet 20 in elevated position supported by the inflated element 36 with wall elements or supports 38 having been placed in position as the permanent supporting means for the roof. These supports may take any desired shape that is, they may be fabricated as a conventional wall or if it is desired to use the roof as an element of an open sided shelter the supports may be simple columns.

A slightly modified apparatus for practicing my improved method is disclosed in FIGURES 4 and 5. The basic structure in this form is the same as that of the previously described modification and consists of foundation 10, securing bolts 12 and associated structure and sheet or lblank 20. .In this form however an inflatable element 36 is initially positioned on the foundation before sheet 20 is secured by clamping ring 22. With the sheet in position inflatable element 36 occupies the space 26 between the sheet 20 and foundation 10. Pressure is now applied to element 36 from a suitable source of pressure connected thereto, such as the pump 28, and element 36 is expanded to stretch the sheet to the position shown in FIGURE 4. Raising the stretched sheet to position is accomplished in a manner similar to that described with respect to the modification of FIGURES 1-3 and is shown diagrammatically in FIGURE 5.

It will be evident from the foregoing description that I have provided a novel method of forming a roof in situ on the building foundation and subsequently raising and supporting it at the desired height to constitute a building structure. This method may be utilized on any size and many shapes of roof structures. Due to the fabrication of the roof in a single piece, and the novel manner of raising it, substantial savings are realized both in labor costs and the cost of materials. The domed shape of the roof provides the ultimate in strength and load bearing characteristics.

It is understood that minor variation lfrom the vform of the invention disclosed herein may 'be made without departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and that the specification and drawings are to be considered as merely illustrative rather than limiting.

I claim:

1. The method of constructing a roof of a building in situ which comprises the steps of z forming a foundation;

peripherally securing a sheet of substantially inelastic material to said foundation;

applying pressure Ibetween said sheet and said foundation to stretch said sheet to the desired shape of a roof;

reducing the pressure;

releasing the stretched sheet from the foundation;

raising the stretched sheet and supporting the same at the desired height to constitute a roof over said foundation. 2. The method of constructing a roof of a building in situ which comprises the steps of:

yforming a foundation; peripherally securing a sheet of substantially inelastic material in uid tight relation to said foundation;

introducing fluid under pressure between said sheet and said foundation to stretch said sheet to the desired shape of a roof;

reducing the pressure;

releasing the stretched sheet from the foundation; and

raising the stretched sheet to the desired height to constitute a roof.

3. The method of constructing a roof of a building -in situ which comprises the steps of:

forming a foundation;

positioning a hollow expansible body Within the periphery of said foundation;

peripherally securing a sheet of substantially inelastic material to said found-ation enclosing said body;

inflating said hollow body to expand the same and thereby stretch said sheet to the desired shape of a roof;

deating the hollow body;

releasing the roof shaped sheet from the foundation;

reinating the hollow body to raise the roof shaped sheet to the desired height; and

supporting and securing the raised roof shaped sheet above the foundation to constitute a building structure.

`4. The method of constructing the roof of a building in sit'u which comprises the steps of:

forming a foundation;

peripherally securing a sheet of substantially inelastic material in uid tight relation to said foundation;

introducing fluid under pressure between said sheet and said foundation to stretch said sheet to the desired shape of a roof;

reducing the pressure;

releasing the stretched sheet so that the sheet may 'be raised above the foundation;

positioning a hollow intiatable body between said sheet and said foundation;

inflating said body to raise said sheet to the desired height; and

supporting and securing the raised stretched sheet above the foundation to constitute a building structure.

- References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,086,134 7/1937 Ludwick 113--120 2,511,873 6/ 1950' Perkins 29-429 2,669,209 2/ 1954 Hoffman 72-63 2,749,592 2/1956' Vartia 25-155 2,752,675 7/1956 Bauer 72-83 3,015,470 1/196-2 Patchen 254-93 3,057,054 lO/ 19612 Barnes 29-429 3,106,772 10/1963 Holcombe 52--741 X JOHN F. CAMPBELL, Primary Examiner.

THOMAS H. EAGER, Examiner. 

1. THE METHOD OF CONSTRUCTING A ROOF OF A BUILDING IN SITU WHICH COMPRISES THE STEPS OF: FORMING A FOUNDATION; PERIPHERALLY SECURING A SHEET OF SUBSTANTIALLY INELASTIC MATERIAL TO SAID FOUNDATION; APPLYING PRESSURE BETWEEN SAID SHEET AND SAID FOUNDATION TO STRETCH SAID SHEET TO THE DESIRED SHAPE OF A ROOF; REDUCING THE PRESSURE; RELEASING THE STRETCHED SHEET FROM THE FOUNDATION; RAISING THE STRETCHED SHEET AND SUPPORTING THE SAME AT THE DESIRED HEIGHT TO CONSTITUTE A ROOF OVER SAID FOUNDATION. 